U of T Engineering’s 150th anniversary celebration continues in Hong Kong

Alumni Andrew Sit (far left) and Emmy Choi (far right) join Dean Chris Yip (middle left) and Executive Director, Advancement Mark Rittinger (middle right) at a fireside chat in celebration of U of T Engineering’s 150th anniversary in Hong Kong. Photo by David Teng.

More than 100 alumni from Hong Kong and Asia Pacific gathered at the Kowloon Shangri-La to mark U of T Engineering’s 150th anniversary – part of a year-long celebration of the faculty’s distinguished past and exciting trajectory. 

The event featured a fireside chat with Dean Christopher Yip (BASc 1988) on topics ranging from the student experience and global fluency to new research.  Later Emmy Choi (BASc 1995), co-founder of the Hong Kong Engineering Alumni Association, and Andrew Sit (BASc 1996), also a keen volunteer, joined the Dean on stage to discuss the importance of staying connected and the strength of the alumni base in Hong Kong. 

Also in attendance were members of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Consul General of Canada in Hong Kong and Macao. 

Guests at the event were invited to engrave their own luggage tags – a nod to the global network of U of T Engineering alumni – and take pictures in a photo booth with different campus backgrounds. The event brought a touch of St. George to Hong Kong, with classic Canadian food and a special Skule150 beverage. 

Several guests brought memorabilia from their time at U of T Engineering, including Sai Kwong Daniel Li, who brought his convocation program from 1974 and a letter from U of T Alumni Association President Walter Giles. One alumnus, Tony Lui (BASc 1974), was on route to Hong Kong for a family reunion when he heard about the event and decided to attend, despite a busy family schedule.    

“It was incredible to meet alumni from four different decades halfway around the world,” says Dean Yip, who also brought his own U of T Engineering yearbook from 1987. “Our wonderful conversations and connections carried on throughout the evening – the hotel eventually gave us the ‘it’s time to wrap up’ signal.  

“We have a remarkable network of alumni who are working across disciplines to solve some of the biggest global challenges and advance society. It’s testament to the power of a U of T education, and the community spirit and camaraderie that transcends generations.” 

Originally published by the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering